Japanese Rescuers Search for Survivors after Deadly Earthquake
2024-01-03
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1A series of powerful earthquakes in western Japan have left at least 55 people dead and damaged thousands of buildings, automobiles and boats.
2The first quake struck New Year's Day, registering 7.6 in magnitude, or strength.
3The shaking caused major damage across Ishikawa prefecture.
4Japanese media reports said the quake destroyed tens of thousands of homes and cut water, power and phone services in some areas.
5The mayor in the town of Suzu, near the quake's center, said up to 90 percent of homes may have been destroyed, Reuters news agency reported.
6The earthquake set off tsunami warnings along Japan's western coast.
7Officials ordered about 100,000 people to leave their homes Monday night.
8They were sent to schools and sports centers to take shelter.
9Many returned to their homes Tuesday after the warnings were lifted.
10Japan's Meteorological Agency said about 200 aftershocks had struck since the main quake and that more were expected in coming days.
11Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters the government had deployed teams that included military troops, police and local rescuers.
12"We have received reports that there are still many people waiting to be rescued under collapsed buildings," he said.
13Kishida added that saving lives is the top goal.
14Japan sits on the so-called Ring of Fire, a collection of volcanoes and fault lines found around the Pacific Basin.
15About 20 percent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater happen in that area.
16Monday's earthquake was Japan's deadliest since 2016.
17Emergency teams battled fires in several cities, as rescuers searched for people trapped in wreckage.
18Shoichi Kobayashi lives in the city of Wajima.
19He told Reuters he was at home celebrating New Year's with his wife and son when the quake hit and sent furniture flying across the house.
20"I've never experienced a quake that powerful," Kobayashi said.
21In the city of Nanao, Fujiko Ueno said she was celebrating with about 20 people in her home when the earthquake struck.
22The quake caused walls to collapse onto a parked car. Ueno said no one in the group was injured.
23"It all happened in the blink of an eye," she said.
24Toshitaka Katada is a University of Tokyo professor who specializes in disasters.
25He told The Associated Press that people were better prepared for this event because the area had been hit by quakes in recent years.
26"There is probably no people on earth other than Japanese who are so disaster-ready," Katada said.
27Government officials said several nuclear centers in the area were operating normally.
28A 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused three reactors to melt down and release large amounts of radiation at the Fukushima nuclear power center in northeastern Japan.
29I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A series of powerful earthquakes in western Japan have left at least 55 people dead and damaged thousands of buildings, automobiles and boats. 2The first quake struck New Year's Day, registering 7.6 in magnitude, or strength. The shaking caused major damage across Ishikawa prefecture. 3Japanese media reports said the quake destroyed tens of thousands of homes and cut water, power and phone services in some areas. 4The mayor in the town of Suzu, near the quake's center, said up to 90 percent of homes may have been destroyed, Reuters news agency reported. 5The earthquake set off tsunami warnings along Japan's western coast. Officials ordered about 100,000 people to leave their homes Monday night. They were sent to schools and sports centers to take shelter. Many returned to their homes Tuesday after the warnings were lifted. 6Japan's Meteorological Agency said about 200 aftershocks had struck since the main quake and that more were expected in coming days. 7Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters the government had deployed teams that included military troops, police and local rescuers. "We have received reports that there are still many people waiting to be rescued under collapsed buildings," he said. 8Kishida added that saving lives is the top goal. 9Japan sits on the so-called Ring of Fire, a collection of volcanoes and fault lines found around the Pacific Basin. About 20 percent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater happen in that area. 10Monday's earthquake was Japan's deadliest since 2016. Emergency teams battled fires in several cities, as rescuers searched for people trapped in wreckage. 11Shoichi Kobayashi lives in the city of Wajima. He told Reuters he was at home celebrating New Year's with his wife and son when the quake hit and sent furniture flying across the house. "I've never experienced a quake that powerful," Kobayashi said. 12In the city of Nanao, Fujiko Ueno said she was celebrating with about 20 people in her home when the earthquake struck. The quake caused walls to collapse onto a parked car. Ueno said no one in the group was injured. "It all happened in the blink of an eye," she said. 13Toshitaka Katada is a University of Tokyo professor who specializes in disasters. He told The Associated Press that people were better prepared for this event because the area had been hit by quakes in recent years. "There is probably no people on earth other than Japanese who are so disaster-ready," Katada said. 14Government officials said several nuclear centers in the area were operating normally. A 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused three reactors to melt down and release large amounts of radiation at the Fukushima nuclear power center in northeastern Japan. 15I'm Bryan Lynn. 16The Associated Press and Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. 17_____________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19prefecture - n. any one of the areas into which some countries (such as Japan and France) are divided for local government 20tsunami - n. a series of large ocean waves 21furniture - n. objects such as chairs, tables and beds that are placed into rooms or buildings